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Hershey Bears sign 'Big Mike' Cajkovsky, two others for 2014-15

Michal Cajkovsky 8-13-13

Defenseman Michal Cajkovsky participated in Washington Capitals development camp last month at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. On Friday, he signed a one-year AHL contract with the Hershey Bears for 2014-15.
(Tim Leone | tleone@pennlive.com)

With an eye toward bolstering overall depth, the Hershey Bears signed three players Friday to AHL contracts for the 2014-15 season, all of whom attended Washington Capitals' development camp last month.

Hershey signed defensemen Michal Cajkovsky and Wade Epp, and forward Braden Pimm to one-year deals with training camp looming next month for both the Bears and their new ECHL affiliate, the South Carolina Stingrays.

Cajkovsky, 22, played 66 games last season with the Reading Royals and earned ECHL all-rookie team honors. The 6-foot-3, 218-pound native of Slovakia, led all Reading defensemen in goals (14) and points (36), the most by a first-year blueliner in the league. His five power-play goals ranked second on the team.

Known around the Washington and Hershey organizations as "Big Mike," Cajkovsky drew praise from new Bears assistant coach Bryan Helmer during Caps' development camp.

"You definitely see something there," Helmer said of Cajkovsky. "I think he was one of the better defensemen out there. "The way he plays, I think he has that little mean streak in him. He's big. He's strong. I think sometimes he tries to do a little too much and kind of gets himself in trouble. That's something you can teach a kid. There's a lot of upside on him."

A former Northeastern University standout, Pimm enters his first full professional season after appearing in nine games last spring for the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals. He did not register a point or commit a penalty.

The 24-year-old Pimm led Northeastern in goals (20) and ranked third in points (37) during his senior season before signing an amateur tryout deal with the Admirals. The 6-foot, 200-pounder served as an alternate captain for the Huskies during his fourth and final season.

A native of Fort Saint John, British Columbia, the undrafted Pimm had 42 goals and 43 assists during his four-year college career.

The 25-year-old Epp wrapped up his four-year collegiate career at Northern Michigan University this past spring. In 36 games, he had three goals, five assists and 39 penalty minutes for the Wildcats.

The 6-foot-4, 224-pound native of Chilliwack, British Columbia, played 141 career games for NMU, posting 34 points (nine goals, 25 assists).

Pimm and Epp would appear to be long shots to crack Hershey's opening-night roster, but both will likely get their feet wet playing for the Stingrays, who replaced the Royals as ECHL affiliate of the Caps and Bears.